Illan Meslier
Illan Stéphane Meslier (born 2 March 2000) is a French professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for English side Leeds United. He is also a France U20 international.
Meslier warming up for Lorient in 2019 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Illan Stéphane Meslier[1] | ||
Date of birth | 2 March 2000 | ||
Place of birth | Lorient, France | ||
Height | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||
Playing position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Leeds United | ||
Number | 1 | ||
Youth career | |||
2006–2009 | Merlevenez | ||
2009–2018 | Lorient | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2017–2019 | Lorient II | 17 | (0) |
2018–2020 | Lorient | 28 | (0) |
2019–2020 | → Leeds United (loan) | 10 | (0) |
2020– | Leeds United | 0 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2018 | France U18 | 3 | (0) |
2018 | France U19 | 5 | (0) |
2019– | France U20 | 4 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 July 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23 July 2020 |
Club career
Lorient
Meslier began playing football with his local club Merlevenez at the age of 6, and after a successful match against FC Lorient joined their academy.[2] On 1 February 2018, he signed his first professional contract with Lorient.[3] In July 2018, Lorient rejected a €10 million bid from Ligue 1 side AS Monaco for Meslier.[4][5] he also received interest from English Premier League side Chelsea.[6][5]
He stayed at Lorient, and shortly made his professional debut under then Manager Mickaël Landreau for Lorient in a 1–0 Coupe de la Ligue win over Valenciennes FC on 14 August 2018.[7] He kept a clean sheet consecutively in his first 5 games as a professional, conceding his first ever goal in his 6th game against Paris FC.[8] He saved an injury time penalty from Clermont player Manuel Perez in Lorient's 1-0 win against Clermont.[9] He solidified his place as the club's number 1 keeper during the 2018/19 season, playing 30 times in all competitions, keeping 11 clean sheets. With his form helping Lorient finish in 6th in 2018–19 Ligue 2 but narrowly missing out on the playoffs due to goal difference compared with RC Lens. [10]
Leeds United (loan)
On 8 August 2019, Meslier was signed on a season-long loan by English Championship team Leeds United, with Leeds also having the option to buy Meslier on a permanent deal.[11][12]
He started the season as second choice goalkeeper behind Kiko Casilla and competing with Kamil Miazek for a place on the bench, Meslier gained a reputation as a penalty saving expert after saving three separate penalties for Leeds United under-23's by December.[13]
On 4 January 2020, head coach Marcelo Bielsa announced that Meslier would make his debut on 6 January in Leeds' FA Cup tie against Premier League side Arsenal.[14] With Meslier putting in an impressive performance against the Premier League side in a 1–0 defeat on his debut, he was praised for his distribution and his saves during the match.[15] On 29 February 2020, he made his league debut for Leeds in a 4–0 victory away at Hull City.[16]
Meslier finished the season as first choice at Leeds after an 8 game suspension to fellow goalkeeper Kiko Casilla, with Meslier keeping 7 clean sheets in his 10 league games to help Leeds become Champions and win promotion to the Premier League.[17][18]
Leeds United
On 23 July 2020, Meslier joined Leeds permanently following their promotion to the Premier League, signing a 3-year contract.[19]
International career
Meslier has been capped at international level by France, all the way up to France U20's. He was also part of the France U20's squad for the FIFA U-20 World Cup during the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup playing as the 1st choice goalkeeper in May 2019.[20]
In November 2019, Meslier was called up the France U21's squad and was named as an unused substitute in a 3-1 defeat against Switzerland U21's on 19 November 2019.[21]
Style of play
Due to his appearance and physical stature, Meslier's goalkeeping style has been compared to that of Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.[22][23]
Career statistics
- As of match played 22 July 2020
Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
FC Lorient II | 2016–17[24] | National 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
2017–18[24] | 16 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||||
2018–19[24] | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
Total | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | ||
FC Lorient | 2018–19[24] | Ligue 2 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
2019–20[24] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Total | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | ||
Leeds United(Loan) | 2019–20[25] | Championship | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 11 | 0 | |
Leeds United | 2020–21 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||
Career total | 55 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 0 |
References
- "Notification of shirt numbers: Leeds United" (PDF). English Football League. p. 36. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
- "Ilan Meslier, gardien malgré lui - FC Lorient". 5 December 2016.
- "Illan Meslier signe son premier contrat professionnel - FC Lorient". 1 February 2018.
- "Who is FC Lorient goalkeeper Illan Meslier? Leeds United's loanee profiled". YEP. 8 August 2019.
- "Mercato. FC Lorient: Illan Meslier to Monaco". Ouest France.
- "FC Lorient. Chelsea also looks for Meslier". Ouest France.
- "Valenciennes vs. Lorient - 14 August 2018 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
- "Illan Meslier, the quiet strength of a number one caretaker". Be Soccer.
- "Football. Metz, Brest and Lorient garner". 24 Matins.
- "French teenage goalkeeper Illan Meslier close to Leeds United arrival". YEP.
- "Illan Meslier signs on loan". www.leedsunited.com. 2019-08-08. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
- "ILLAN MESLIER ON LOAN TO LEEDS". Lorient Official Site (in French). 2019-08-08. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
- "Leeds United fans react as Illan Meslier saves another penalty". The Boot Room. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- "Marcelo Bielsa reveals four Leeds United changes for Arsenal FA Cup clash and issues Whites injury update". Yorkshire Evening Post. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- "Arsenal performance shows how well Leeds' approach to the loan market is working – despite Nketiah frustration". The Athletic.
- "Hull City 0-4 Leeds United: Ayling, Hernandez & Roberts give Whites victory". BBC Sport. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
- "LEEDS UNITED COMPLETE ILLAN MESLIER TRANSFER". Leeds United. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- "Championship: Leeds United promoted to Premier League after 16-year absence". BBC Sport. 17 July 2020.
- "Illan Meslier: Leeds United sign Lorient keeper after loan spell". BBC Sport. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- "Mali 2 France 0". UEFA.
- "Switzerland 3-1 France". Sky Sports.
- "Casilla starred again but soon Leeds may be without him. If the time comes, Meslier will be ready". The Athletic.
- "EXCLUSIVE ILLAN MESLIER: "WITHOUT A BIG GUARD, YOU CAN'T GO FAR". Onze Mondial.
- Illan Meslier at Soccerway. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- "Games played by Illan Meslier in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- "Leeds United are champions!". Leeds United F.C. 18 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
External links
- Illan Meslier at Soccerway
- FCL Profile
- Illan Meslier at the French Football Federation (in French)
- Illan Meslier – French league stats at LFP (also available in French)